MURMURATIONS

The Coniguliaro Brothers' (SUN COLORED CHAIR, IN-DREAMVIEW, WIPPY BONSTACK, THE FILIBUSTER SALOON) sophomore release of Quinn's musical compositions (and explorations). What a team of collaborators!

1. "Rip Of Roost" (3:56) My throw away song; like one of Ant Phillips electric duds from Sides or Invisible Men. (8.66667/10)

2. "Bird Tunnels" (2:25) a mathematical étude that contains some very catchy, elegant melodies. (9/10)

3. "Stone Ponies" (4:28) the gentler side of Quinn trying on an old 1970s smooth jazz sound palette before moving into some more sophisticated jazz fusion. Nice tune. Memorable in a Wippy Bonstack kind of way. (9/10)

4. "The Big Goldeneye" (3:32) I love the 1960s Beach Rock riffs and sounds in this one. Though it is not all that, it definitely has a cinematic feel of mystery and intrigue. (8.875/10)

5. "Outmind" (2:53) wonderful weave of more delicate instrumental palette--almost Latin/Brazilian folk jazz imitative. Crushing melodies in several sections. My favorite song on the album. (10/10)

6. "Wingtip Vortices" (7:56) a wonderfully-fulfilling, complete composition that uses a bit of a STEREOLAB sound and melody palette before rocking out a bit. There's even a dreamy pastoral ANTHONY PHILLIPS/GENESIS-like passage (or two) in the fifth, six, and seventh minutes that eventually moves back to the opening motif for the finish. (13.75/15)

7. "Red Knot" (1:06) sounds like a hard-XTC/Dave Gregory rock version of the main motif in the previous song.(4.25/5)

8. "Clean Dinner" (1:19) a little Math Rock dittie that tries to be/turn folk rock. (4.5/5)

9. "House Finch" (2:32) strings and bassoon with organ and MIKE OLDFIELD electric guitar, tuned percussion and others perform this little mediæval circus dittie. (8.875/10)

10. "Osprey Outcry" (3:10) as if GENTLE GIANT tried to play some of their more classically-derived songs with a different instrumental palette. Nice tune. (9/10)

11. "Rookery" (5:55) more music from the "GENTLE GIANT covers/alternate takes" series--as if they has Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman on electric guitar and grand piano, respectively, and then were joined by Anthony Phillips or Mike Rutherford on 12-string in the last quarter. (9/10)

12. "Tinfoil Firehat" (4:03) fast-fire, hard-driving Andy Partridge-like prog pop that incorporates riffs and elements from Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Mike Oldfield and others as it goes. (8.875/10)

In my humble opinion, this album is yet another output of songs that the Coniguliaro Brothers have used to test and hone their skills with challenging new styles and forms.

B+/4.5 stars; a near-masterpiece of instrumental progressive rock music that sounds like a lot of "practice" covers and variations of other masters' sounds and styles.